A group of climate change protesters are campaigning against expansion plans at Manchester Airport.

Police officers manned the doors to Terminal 3 and directed the group of about 50 people, from Northern Climate Rush, to a cordoned off area away from passengers.

Vanessa Hall, spokeswoman for Northern Climate Rush, said the number of police officers at the airport was “outrageous.”

The 35-year-old said: “The domestic flights between Manchester and London are the ones that are most unnecessary.

”There’s no reason to fly between Manchester and London anymore. Flying is destroying the environment and causing climate change.

”Our children and younger people will suffer in the future because of this.”

Ms Hall said the protest was being held to coincide with the demonstration in London.

She said: “I think the police presence has been absolutely outrageous. This was advertised as a very peaceful protest.

”We did not want to disrupt passengers. They could have let us have the run of the airport.”

Some members of the group spelt out “flying kills” in coats, scarves and an umbrella on the floor. A man with a cello and a woman with a violin played some music written by the composer Handel while others ate food from a picnic hamper.